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Old Fashion Chess Bars

These Old Fashion Chess Bars are sweet creamy cookie bars with a delicate flaky upper crust and a soft browned cake-like bottom crust. The taste will remind you of a combination of cheese cake, graham cracker crust and fluffy cloud! 

Old Fashion Chess Bars make a full 9×13 pan and are simply mouthwateringly delicious! They make their own crust and are EASY! You won’t want to miss giving chess bars as a treat for any special occasion.

Three chess bars stacked on top of one another on gray plate

Old Fashioned Chess Bars

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

  1. It’s EASY!
  2. You simply spread everything into the pan and bake it! 
  3. Soft cakey vanilla body with a graham cracker crust! 
  4. It uses a cake mix!

WHAT IS A CHESS BAR? 

Chess Bars are a take off on Chess Pie which is a simple pie using butter, eggs and sugar (all the good stuff!). These chess bars are simplicity at their best. 

CHESS BAR VARIATIONS:

There are a number of ways that you can jazz up these chess bars! Here are some suggestions:

  • CHESS BARS WITH PECANS: Throw some pecans (1/2 cup)  in the mix for Chess Bars with Pecans
  • CHESS BARS WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS:  Throw about 1/2 Cup chocolate chips in the mix for Chess Bars with Chocolate Chips.
  • HOW ABOUT COCONUT: Add 1/2 cup coconut to the mix for Chess Bars with Coconut.
  • CHESS BARS WITH BUTTERSCOTCH:  Scotchie Chess Bars are delightful! Add 1/2 cup of butterscotch chips to the mix for Chess Bars with Butterscotch!

 

Step by Step Photos of Old Fashion Chess Pie

Old Fashion Chess Bars @loavesanddishes.net

Prepare the pan with aluminum foil – and then SPRAY the foil – otherwise – sticky mess!

 

Old fashion chess bars @loavesanddishes.net

The crust, once it is mixed

Old Fashion Chess bars @loavesanddishes.net

The crust patted into the bottom of the 9×13 pan

Old Fashion Chess Bars @loavesanddishes.net

The filling batter

Old fashion chess bars @loavesanddishes.net

The batter poured over the crust

Old Fashion Chess bars @loavesanddishes.net

The final baked chess bars – OH SO GOOD!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR OLD FASHIONED CHESS BARS

CAN I FREEZE CHESS BARS? 

Yes, chess bars freeze well. Place in a freezer safe plastic bag, label and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to three months. You may note that your chess bars are more crumbly after freezing. 

HOW LONG WILL CHESS BARS KEEP?

Chess bars do best when refrigerated, but will even do fine in a sealed room temp container for 3 days. Last in the fridge for 5-7 days. 

WHAT DO CHESS BARS TASTE LIKE? 

Chess bars resemble cheesecake in texture and flavor. They are light, fluffy and just perfect! 

IF YOU ENJOYED THESE CHESS BARS, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE CHESS PIES…

Chess Pie

Old Fashioned Lemon Chess Pie

Chocolate Chess pie

Vinegar Pie

Fudge Chocolate Pecan Pie

Kentucky Bourbon Pie

Old Fashion Pecan Pie

Old Fashioned Chess Pie

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Leave me a 5 STAR  🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Comment below. If you made this recipe, I would love for you to share it with me on social media or just email me at wendi(at sign)loavesanddishes.net. Reader comments are the best. I answer right back!

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THE RECIPE FOR OLD FASHIONED CHESS BARS

Three chess bars stacked on top of one another on gray plate

Old Fashion Chess Bars

These creamy cheesy delicious and delicate chess bars will take you right back to grandma's kitchen!  Ready quickly and makes a lot!  Perfect!
4.91 from 11 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chess bars, chess cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 300kcal

Ingredients

  • I package of yellow cake mix
  • 1 stick of butter – softened
  • 4 eggs divided
  • 3 ½ cups confectioners sugar powdered sugar
  • 1 block of cream cheese
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp almond extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare a 9x13 casserole dish as follows: Line with aluminum foil and then spray the aluminum foil with a baking spray such as Baker’s Joy.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with your hand mixer – or if you are really strong – with a big spoon), combine cake mix, butter and ONE egg.
  • Pat the cake mixture into the bottom of the 9x13 pan.
  • Mix together the sugar, eggs, cream cheese, extracts and pinch of salt (will look like cake batter or pancake batter) and pour this over the cake mix layer.
  • Bake in center of the oven for 35-45 minutes (my oven takes more like 45 mins +) – it is done when it gets puffy and starts to brown on the top. Shake the pan and when the center has just stopped jiggling, it’s done. Allow to cool before serving so that the center can gel. Don’t bother with the toothpick test – doesn’t necessarily work on this one.

Notes

Use room temp ingredients for the best result. 
Light cheese cake texture is what you want. 
Make sure to put foil in the bottom of the pan so that your chess bars don't stick. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Old Fashion Chess Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 300
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

***THIS CONTENT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON LOAVES AND DISHES ON JULY 7, 2015 and has been updated with new information***

 

A VERSE TO SHARE

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~ Romans 12:9

As a note, any of you who have been reading my monthly “Behind the Scenes” will know that our sweet dog, “Spooky” has been having some health issues. Last week, Spooky’s health took a sudden turn for the worse and we had to say goodbye to our dear sweet friend. I miss her terribly, we all do.

Our dog Spooky @loavesanddishes.net

Spooky – that really is her name – she picked it out herself

 

 

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Shirley

Friday 12th of August 2022

I lost my old recipe! Thank You so much! I love these bars! I use bacon grease! Best thing for canned veggies! ❤️🙏💕A sister from the South! I was born in Atlanta, Georgia! Thank You so much! Shirley

Wendi Spraker

Monday 15th of August 2022

I'm glad you found a recipe you enjoy that replaces your old lost recipe! I'm guessing you read a couple of recipes here and add the bacon grease to vegetable and not to chess bars. lol. Have a great week!

Terri

Thursday 5th of December 2019

They were awesome my family keeps asking for them.

CLYNELL MCPHERSON

Monday 22nd of August 2022

@Terri, I love this recipe. been making them for past 3 yrs. every one in family loves them.

Wendi Spraker

Friday 6th of December 2019

Hi Terri! Thanks for coming back to leave me a comment! The nice thing about chess bars being demanded is that they are fairly easy to make! :) Enjoy!

Dianna Gardner

Saturday 12th of October 2019

I believe this is the best chess bar recipe that I've made!! Thank you for sharing!!

Wendi Spraker

Saturday 12th of October 2019

Thanks Dianna! I appreciate you letting me know and leaving a comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Leslie

Friday 10th of May 2019

I know this is an old post, but I just have to say that I love chess cake! However everytime I make it my crust is not solid like yours is and then when it cooks it fluffs up like a cake and the two "layers" Intermingle. What could I be doing wrong?

Wendi Spraker

Friday 10th of May 2019

Leslie, You haven't done a single thing wrong! You are right, it DOES puff up when you cook it. Then after you take it out of the oven, it flattens back down and there isn't usually a solid layer bottom piece that is distinctly different than the top. I am not really sure WHY the ones I produced for a photo did that way! No worries, you are doing this right! Maybe I just need to redo my photos. Thanks for your comment Leslie!

Mary Marshall

Friday 18th of January 2019

Gonna take these to my next family reunion! Thanks!

Wendi Spraker

Friday 18th of January 2019

Oooooo Mary! They are good! Did Sarah bring some to your house over the holidays? She loves these things.

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